LaLiga 2018-19: 6 observations from Real Madrid's loss to Levante

#6 Players failing to step up

The players need to step up for Madrid quickly

Toni Kroos, Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane, Isco and Benzema have had more poor showings than good ones.

While barring Benzema all these players had a busy year with the World Cup and the very needless UEFA Nations League, so they could be just jaded and in need of rest, given they all play pivotal roles in their NTs and have played a lot of minutes already.

Isco has been utterly disappointing and while he may be loved unanimously among the fanbase, he does need to increase his end product, as flicks and tricks look really good on Youtube and Instagram but they don't win you games.

It is high time that he steps up as the leader we all want him to be on the pitch, or he has a hungry Dani Ceballos waiting in the wings to displace him as the new prince in Madrid.

Benzema has been abysmal and barring his first few games of the season, he has not shown too much in attack to warrant a starting place over Mariano, who is waiting on the wings more than eagerly for a proper crack at breaking in the first eleven.

Vallejo has been nonexistent in the matchday squads since the pre-season friendlies, and Madrid needs to buy a proper Centre Back as a cover for Varane and Ramos.

Vinicius has struggled to get any real minutes with the first team squad and while he has proven he is a cut above the Segunda Division, and the first team struggling for that spark in the final third, he has looked on from the bench in most of the fixtures barring a brief cameo against Atletico where he had too little time to show us his ability.

Lopetegui has to give him an opportunity in the Champions League against weak opponents in Viktoria Plzen and gradually increase his minutes as the season grows.